Method of wrapping elongate material, especially cable harnesses, with a sheath

ABSTRACT

A method of wrapping elongate material with a sheath having first and second single-sideded adhesive tapes the tapes laminated to one another with an offset, a free edge of the first adhesive tape aligned parallel to the center axis such that, relative to the center axis of the material, the adhesive of the first adhesive tape lies outwards, the first adhesive tape of the sheath guided by the free edge onto the material, and wound around the material so that the first adhesive tape essentially completely envelopes the material, the second adhesive tape also wound around the material, the exposed adhesive of the second adhesive tape bonding to the exposed adhesive of the first adhesive tape, so that the material is surrounded by at least two plies of adhesive tape.

The invention relates to a method of wrapping elongate material,especially cable harnesses, with a sheath, the bandaged cable loomsbeing useful in automobiles.

In many segments of industry, bundles composed of a multiplicity ofelectrical lines are wrapped either before installation or when alreadymounted, in order to reduce the space taken up by the bundle of lines,by means of bandaging, and additionally to obtain protective functions.With sheet adhesive tapes a certain protection against ingress of liquidis achieved; with airy and bulky adhesive tapes based on thick nonwovensor foam backings, insulating properties are obtained; and, when stable,abrasion-resistant backing materials are used, a protective function isachieved against scuffing and rubbing.

Particularly the protective function with respect to scuffing, rubbing,grinding on sharp edges and burrs, summarized here under the rubric ofabrasion resistance, is increasing in significance. The sharp edges,burrs and weld points that come about as a result of productionoperations are increasingly not having their sharpness removed bycomplicated post-production work, since such work entails an additionaloperation and increased costs. This is so in particular in the case ofthe untreated bodies in the automobile industry, but also in othersegments too, such as in the case of washing machines, vibratingmachines such as compressors and the like, for example. Cable strandswhich run in such segments and which are scuffed by vibration, relativemovements and the like on such sharp points are therefore at potentialrisk of destruction of the protective sheath. This protective sheath maybe the additional wound bandaging, or else may be the insulation aroundthe copper cable itself. In that case the result would be a shortcircuit with complete functional failure and destruction ofelectrical/electronic components, possibly going as far as a fire, withthe attendant risks of damage to equipment and people.

In order to minimize potential hazards of this kind it is the case notonly that normal wrapping tapes are used to bandage the cable strands atcritical points but also that additional precautions are taken. Eitherspecialty adhesive tapes are used or particular protective componentsare employed. These components may be, for example, cable ducts made ofwear-resistant polymers such as nylon or fluted tubes or braided hosesof polyester or nylon, all components which are unfavorable from thestandpoints of cost, separate logistics, and complexity of handlingduring assembly. In the case of the assembly of fluted tubes and cableducts, for example, considerable effort is required for attaching thelengthy tube systems and fixing them reliably to the cable bundle and/orto the body, in order to prevent slipping. Additionally, separatemeasures may be necessary for preventing rattling, since the lines inthe tube systems rarely lie flush against them and in the event ofvibrations they therefore produce rattling noises with the hardmaterials of the tubes. Specialty adhesive tapes as well are used insegments involving increased abrasion protection and scuff protection.Adhesive tapes for the wrapping of cable harnesses or similar elongatesystems with additional functionalities are known prior art and in somecases are also utilized commercially:

Sound insulation is the purpose of the adhesive tape described in DE 19910 730 A1, which is composed of a laminate, a sound insulation layer(velour or foam) and a web, produced using hotmelt adhesive, meltingpowder or a transfer fixative. The use of the very expensive velourbacking comprising the polymer material polyester or polyamide is alsoemployed in other patent applications which describe adhesive tapeshaving a pronounced antirattle function (DE 299 00 294 U1, DE 299 16 616U1, and DE 101 02 927 A1). In all cases the resulting adhesive tapes arehighly priced and in terms of abrasion protection do not meet veryexacting requirements.

WO 00/13894 A1 describes a scuff protection device as edge protectionfor sharp-edged components such as sheet steel bodywork burrs, the scuffprotection being adhered in such a manner as to engage around suchareas. The scuff protection is composed of a textile backing layer (madeof velour or a needlefelt, for example) and of a protective film,preferably made of thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, which is appliedon the side of the scuffing sites, and also of an adhesive layer whichis applied on the side of the component and has a release paper lining.Textile backing layer and protective film are joined to one another viaa thin adhesive bond, the adhesive being applied only in selected areasin the form of a heat-activatable adhesive web, powder or film. Thiscomplicated assembly is lined with released paper, used in appropriatecut-to-size shapes, and is therefore unsuitable for the generalprotective wrapping of cable looms. The protective device of thisinvention does not actively protect the cable loom; instead, whereneeded, sharp-edged parts are locally masked from their surroundings asa kind of passive cable-harness protection.

DE 100 42 732 A1 describes an adhesive tape for the spiral wrapping ofelongate materials such as cable harnesses, for example, where a stripecoating which does not extend over the full area of the backing,preferably a textile backing, produces reduced adhesion of the wrappingtape to the lines and hence improved mobility and bendability of thecable harness as a whole. Inventive adhesive tapes of that kind,however, do not offer any particular abrasion protection, but servesolely for the flexibilization of the cable harness.

An adhesive tape with a combination of noise reduction andfrictional-stress protection properties is described in DE 101 13 425A1. Even at the required basis mass of the web backing, with verticalpile folds, of more than 200 g/m², the protective effects obtained areonly in the middle range for attenuation, and in particular againstabrasion, as was already known from EP 0 995 782 A1 and also EP 0 995783 A1. Similar considerations also apply to DE 100 39 983 A1, which inone specific embodiment describes a textile assembly composed of ascuff-resistant web and a textile sheetlike structure, which is producedwithout the use of a laminating adhesive or the like, solely byhydroentanglement. While the textile sheetlike structure impartsadditional attenuation or reinforcing properties to the assembly, theabrasion resistances for the scuff-resistant hydroentangled base web,composed of stable fibers, is seen as being fairly low for a basis massof not more than 200 g/m².

Besides the stitchbonded web mentioned in the cited publication, thereare further backings which are used in adhesive tapes for cable loombandaging.

DE 44 42 092 C1 describes one such stitchbond-based adhesive tape, whichis coated on the reverse of the backing. DE 44 42 093 C1 is based on theuse of a web as backing for an adhesive tape, the web being formed bythe formation of loops from the fibers of the web to produce areinforced cross-layed fiber web, in other words a web which is known tothe skilled worker under the name Malifleece. DE 44 42 507 C1 disclosesan adhesive tape for cable bandaging, but bases it on so-called Kunit orMultiknit webs.

Likewise a multilayer backing assembly is described in EP 1 063 747 A1,with the aim of using it to form a protective wrapping for elongatearticles with good abrasion resistance and soundproofing. In accordancewith that invention it is necessary, for the assembly backing, to takeat least two webs, which are bonded to one another loosely, mostly onlyin selected areas, and which are able to move relative to one another.Wovens, formed-loop knits and similar textile backings are explicitlyruled out as being unsuitable. The extent of the abrasion resistance andthe soundproofing of inventive multilayer systems also remains unclear,since no specific, measured data are communicated. An extremelycomplicated and high-cost multilayer assembly is disclosed by EP 0 886357 A1 and EP 0 886 358 A1. In this case a spunbonded PET web, aformed-loop PET knit and also, where appropriate, a felt ply or foam plyare each bonded to a laminating layer. This assembly of up to fiveplies, which is already complicated, is additionally provided partiallywith the two necessary components of a touch-close fastening system andwith one or more self-adhesive strips lined with protective paper. Froman economic standpoint, systems of this kind with a high abrasionprotection function are practicable only at a few, selected sites, butnot as general wrapping tapes for cable harnesses or other elongatearticles.

DE 100 36 805 A1 describes a wrap for wrapping elongate material,especially cable harnesses, with a preferably textile enclosure, whereinon at least one edge region of the enclosure, said region being narrowin comparison to the width of the enclosure, there is a self-adhesivetape which is bonded to the enclosure in such a way that the adhesivetape extends over one of the longitudinal edges of the enclosure.

It is an object of the invention to achieve a marked improvement overthe state of the art and to provide a method of wrapping that combinesthe facility to bandage individual lines to form cable harnesses with ahigh level of protection against mechanical damage by scuffing andrubbing on sharp edges, burrs, and weld points.

This object is achieved by means of a method as recorded in the mainclaim. The subclaims provide advantageous developments of the method andalso provide a cable loom wrapped by the method of the invention.

The invention accordingly provides a method of wrapping elongatematerial, especially cable harnesses, with a sheath comprising a firstand a second single-sidedly adhesive tape the tapes in the runningdirection each being laminated to one another on the adhesive side withan offset, the free edge of the first adhesive tape of the sheath beingaligned parallel to the center axis such that, relative to the centeraxis of the material, the adhesive of the first adhesive tape liesoutwards. The first adhesive tape of the sheath is guided by the freeedge onto the material. The first adhesive tape of the sheath is woundaround the material so that the first adhesive tape of the sheathessentially completely envelops the material. The second adhesive tapeof the sheath is guided in a further winding around the material, theexposed adhesive of the second adhesive tape bonding to the exposedadhesive of the first adhesive tape, so that the material is alwayssurrounded by at least two plies of adhesive tape.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention the winding of thesecond adhesive tape of the sheath is such that the exposed adhesive ofthe first adhesive tape is completely covered by the second adhesivetape.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at the free edgeof the first adhesive tape of the sheath, a third single-sidedlyadhesive tape is laminated onto the first adhesive tape in the runningdirection, in each case on the adhesive side, with an offset, the thirdadhesive tape having a narrower width than the first. The third adhesivetape serves as an application aid for the sheath on the material and sofacilitates handling.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the sheath andalso the sheath with the third adhesive tape are present in fixedlengths, for example as meter product, or as continuous product on rolls(Archimedean spiral).

The sheath preferably has a width of 50 to 400 mm, in particular of 80to 280 mm.

With further preference the first adhesive tape has a width of 40 to 140mm, the second adhesive tape a width of 40 to 140 mm and/or the thirdadhesive tape a width of 20 to 40 mm.

With further preference the first adhesive tape is laminated onto thesecond adhesive tape with an offset of 5% to 20% relative to the widthof the adhesive tape.

With further preference the third adhesive tape is laminated onto thefirst adhesive tape with an offset of 40% to 60%, in particular 50%,relative to the width of the adhesive tape.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the sheath has oneor more lines of weakness essentially at right angles to the runningdirection.

In order further to improve hand tearability, in one preferredembodiment of the invention the lines of weakness extend over the entirewidth of the sheath: that is, of the first adhesive tape, of the secondadhesive tape and/or of the third adhesive tape.

In order to allow a particularly simple operation for the user, thelines of weakness are aligned at right angles to the running directionof the sheath and/or are disposed at regular intervals.

The sheath is particularly easy to sever if the lines of weakness areconfigured in the form of perforations.

In this way it is possible to achieve edges between the individualsections which are highly fluff-free, and so unwanted fraying isprevented.

With particular advantage the lines of weakness can be produced eitherdiscontinuously, using flat dies or cross-running perforating wheels orcontinuously using rotary systems such as spike rollers or punchrollers, with or without the use of a counter-roller (Vulkollan roller),which form the counter wheel when slitting.

Further possibilities include slitting technologies which are controlledto operate intermittently, such as, for example, the use of lasers,ultrasound, high-pressure water jets, etc. Where, in the case of laserslitting or ultrasonic slitting, some of the energy is introduced asheat into the backing material, the fibers can be melted in the regionof slitting, thereby very largely preventing disruptive fraying, andgiving sharply contoured slit edges. Latter methods are also suitablefor obtaining specific slit-edge geometries: for example, concave orconvex slit edges.

The height of the spikes or blades on the punch rollers is preferably150% of the sum of the thickness of the first adhesive tape plus thethickness of the second or third adhesive tape.

The hole-to-bridge ratio in the case of perforation—that is, the ratioof the number of millimeters where the material is severed to the numberof millimeters where the material holds together (“bridge”)—determineshow easy it is to tear, in particular, the fibers of the backingmaterial. This ratio also has an ultimate effect on the extent to whichthe torn edge is fluff-free.

The bridge width is preferably approximately 2 mm and the slit widthbetween the bridges is approximately 10 mm; in other words, bridges 2 mmwide alternate with incisions 10 mm long. The hole-to-bridge ratio,accordingly, is preferably 2:10.

With this weakening of the material it is possible to obtain asufficiently low tear force.

The backing material of the first, second and/or third adhesive tape iscomposed preferably of a loop product or of a velour, lay, woven orformed-loop knit, in particular a PET filament woven or a nylon woven.

As backing material for the adhesive tapes it is possible additionallyto use all known textile backings such as wovens, knits or nonwovenwebs; the term “web” embraces at least textile sheetlike structures inaccordance with EN 29092 (1988) and also stitchbonded nonwovens andsimilar systems.

It is likewise possible to use spacer fabrics, including wovens andknits, with lamination. Spacer fabrics of this kind are disclosed in EP0 071 212 B1. Spacer fabrics are matlike layer structures comprising acover layer of a fiber or filament fleece, an underlayer and individualretaining fibers or bundles of such fibers between these layers, saidfibers being distributed over the area of the layer structure, beingneedled through the particle layer, and joining the cover layer and theunderlayer to one another. As an additional though not mandatoryfeature, the retaining fibers, in accordance with EP 0 071 212 B1,comprise inert mineral particles, such as sand, gravel or the like, forexample.

The holding fibers needled through the particle layer hold the coverlayer and the underlayer at a distance from one another and are joinedto the cover layer and the underlayer. Spacer wovens or spacer knits aredescribed, inter alia, in two articles, namely

-   -   an article from the journal kettenwirk-praxis 3/93, 1993, pages        59 to 63, “Raschelgewirkte Abstandsgewirke” [Raschel-knitted        spacer knits] and    -   an article from the journal kettenwirk-praxis 1/94, 1994, pages        73 to 76, “Raschelgewirkte Abstandsgewirke”,        the content of said articles being included here by reference        and being part of this disclosure and invention.

Suitable nonwovens include, in particular, consolidated staple fiberwebs, but also filament webs, meltblown webs, and spunbonded webs, whichgenerally require additional consolidation. Known consolidation methodsfor webs are mechanical, thermal, and chemical consolidation. Whereaswith mechanical consolidations the fibers are mostly held togetherpurely mechanically by entanglement of the individual fibers, by theinterlooping of fiber bundles or by the stitching-in of additionalthreads, it is possible by thermal and by chemical techniques to obtainadhesive (with binder) or cohesive (binderless) fiber-fiber bonds. Givenappropriate formulation and an appropriate process regime, these bondsmay be restricted exclusively, or at least predominantly, to the fibernodal points, so that a stable, three-dimensional network is formedwhile retaining the loose open structure in the web.

Webs which have proven particularly advantageous are those consolidatedin particular by overstitching with separate threads or by interlooping.

Consolidated webs of this kind are produced, for example, onstitchbonding machines of the “Malifleece” type from the company KarlMayer, formerly Malimo, and can be obtained, inter alia, from thecompanies Naue Fasertechnik and Techtex GmbH. A Malifleece ischaracterized in that a cross-laid web is consolidated by the formationof loops from fibers of the web.

The backing used may also be a web of the Kunit or Multiknit type. AKunit web is characterized in that it originates from the processing ofa longitudinally oriented fiber web to form a sheetlike structure whichhas the heads and legs of loops on one side and, on the other, loop feetor pile fiber folds, but possesses neither threads nor prefabricatedsheetlike structures. A web of this kind has been produced, inter alia,for many years, for example on stitchbonding machines of the“Kunitvlies” type from the company Karl Mayer. A further characterizingfeature of this web is that, as a longitudinal-fiber web, it is able toabsorb high tensile forces in the longitudinal direction. Thecharacteristic feature of a Multiknit web relative to the Kunit is thatthe web is consolidated on both the top and bottom sides by virtue ofthe double-sided needle punching.

Finally, stitchbonded webs are also suitable as an intermediate forminga sheath and an adhesive tape of the invention. A stitchbonded web isformed from a nonwoven material having a large number of stitchesextending parallel to one another. These stitches are brought about bythe incorporation, by stitching or knitting, of continuous textilethreads. For this type of web, stitchbonding machines of the “Maliwatt”type from the company Karl Mayer, formerly Malimo, are known.

And then the Caliweb® is outstandingly suitable. The Caliweb® consistsof a thermally fixed Multiknit spacer web with two outer mesh layers andan inner pile layer, which is arranged perpendicular to the mesh layers.

Also particularly advantageous is a staple fiber web which ismechanically preconsolidated in the first step or is a wet-laid web laidhydrodynamically, in which between 2% and 50% of the web fibers arefusible fibers, in particular between 5% and 40% of the fibers of theweb.

A web of this kind is characterized in that the fibers are laid wet or,for example, a staple fiber web is preconsolidated by the formation ofloops from fibers of the web or by needling, stitching or air-jet orwater-jet treatment.

In a second step, thermofixing takes place, with the strength of the webbeing increased again by the (partial) melting of the fusible fibers.

The web carrier may also be consolidated without binders, by means forexample of hot embossing with structured rollers, in which casepressure, temperature, dwell time, and embossing geometry can be used tocontrol properties like strength, thickness, density, flexibility andthe like.

For the inventive use of nonwovens, the adhesive consolidation ofmechanically preconsolidated or wet-laid webs is of particular interest,it being possible for said consolidation to take place by way of theaddition of binder in solid, liquid, foamed or pastelike form. A greatdiversity of theoretical embodiments is possible: for example, solidbinders as powders for trickling in; as a sheet or as a mesh, or in theform of binding fibers. Liquid binders may be applied as solutions inwater or organic solvent or as a dispersion. For adhesive consolidation,binder dispersions are predominantly chosen: thermosets in the form ofphenolic or melamine resin dispersions, elastomers as dispersions ofnatural or synthetic rubbers, or, usually, dispersions of thermoplasticssuch as acrylates, vinyl acetates, polyurethanes, styrene-butadienesystems, PVC, and the like, and also copolymers thereof. Normally, thedispersions are anionically or nonionically stabilized, although incertain cases cationic dispersions may also be of advantage.

Starting materials envisaged for the backings include, in particular,polyester, polypropylene, viscose or cotton fibers. The presentinvention is, however, not restricted to said materials; rather it ispossible to use a large number of other fibers to produce the web, thisbeing evident to the skilled worker without any need for inventiveactivity. Used in particular are wear-resistant polymers such aspolyesters, polyolefins, polyamides or fibers of glass or of carbon.

Backings made of paper, of a laminate, of a film (for example, PP, PE,PET, PA), of foam, or of a foamed film are also suitable for wrappingthe elongate product.

Suitable textile backings preferably have a basis weight of 100 to 500g/m², recourse being had with further preference, for a good combinationof abrasion resistance and insulation, to textiles having a basis massof 150 to 300 g/m².

For the production of the adhesive tapes it is possible to have recourseto any known adhesive systems. Besides natural rubber or syntheticrubber based adhesives it is also possible to use silicone adhesivesand, in particular, polyacrylate adhesives. On account of theirparticular suitability as an adhesive for wrapping tapes for automobilecable harnesses, with respect to the absence of fogging and also to theoutstanding compatibility with PVC and PVC-free core insulation,preference is given to solvent-free acrylate hotmelts, as are describedin more detail in DE 198 07 752 A1 and also in DE 100 11 788 A1. Theadhesive coatweights should be adapted to the respective carriers inrespect of the roughness and absorbency of the surface to be coated, andare in the range between 40 to 100 g/m² for smooth, nonabsorbent layersor else up to 300 g/m² for open, structured layers, with 50 to 150 g/m²being regarded as sufficient. Coating technologies which suggestthemselves include known systems, with appropriate processes for open,absorbent textiles being those which allow adhesives of high viscosityto be applied without pressure, such as the nozzle coating of hotmeltadhesives or their application by transfer from an antiadhesive carriercloth or release liner to the backing assembly.

Low flammability in the adhesive tapes may be achieved by adding flameretardants to the backing and/or to the adhesive. These retardants maybe organobromine compounds, together where appropriate with synergistssuch as antimony trioxide; however, with a view to the absence ofhalogens from the adhesive tape, preference will be given to using redphosphorus, organophosphorus compounds, mineral compounds or intumescentcompounds such as ammonium polyphosphate, alone or in conjunction withsynergists.

Through an appropriate selection of the two component parts, backing andadhesive, the sheath can be varied within wide ranges. Via the nature ofthe backings that are used it is possible to choose abrasion resistancesand temperature stabilities, insulation properties, and also color andappearance of the outer, covering ply.

Furthermore, the concept of the invention thus also embraces an elongatematerial, such as in particular a cable loom, wrapped according to themethods of the invention, and also a vehicle comprising the wrappedelongate material.

Surprisingly it is found that when a material is wrapped in accordancewith the invention its abrasion resistance turns out to be much higherthan has been known hitherto, thereby allowing a considerable increaseto be achieved in the protective effect with respect to rubbing andscuffing exposures, without any need for special protective measures tobe taken. With the method of the invention it is possible to produce acombination of the bandaging possibilities of a normal wrapping tapewith the abrasion protection afforded by specialty systems such asTwistTubes®, braided hoses, flexible corrugated tubes, and the like.

The material wrapped in accordance with the invention is not onlynotable for very high abrasion resistance and scuff resistance but alsohas pronounced or even outstanding soundproofing properties.Specifically with cable looms in machines or automobiles it isfrequently necessary to combine abrasion protection directly withantirattle requirements. A moving cable strand may on the one handbecome scuffed on sharp edges and burrs, but may also generate rattlingnoises in the case of vibrations and counterstriking. If the wrappingmethod is then capable of actively suppressing or reducing theoccurrence of noise, there is no need for additional, high-costsoundproofing measures.

Because of the absence of fixing of the cables by any adhesive, thecable loom wrapped in accordance with the invention is very flexible.This significantly enhances its bendability duringinstallation—specifically, not least, in narrow passages or sharp bends.

Where the material to be ensheathed is noncylindrical, or in the eventthat said material differs in diameter, the advantages are manifestedparticularly clearly.

The installation space available within autobodies is becoming less andless. The proposed solution can be applied to cable bundles which are inflat elliptical form, and it fixes the bundled cable harness in thisform, which constitutes distinct advantages in cable-harnessinstallation.

The third adhesive tape, as an optional application aid, offers handlingadvantages in the processing of long bonding sections.

Finally, in relation to the known systems, ease of processing issignificantly enhanced, particularly if the cable looms have a verylarge number of branches, which go off largely at uniform intervals fromthe parent loom, so that the parent loom has to be wrapped from branchto branch.

Specifically when the lines of weakness are arranged at regularintervals, sections of equal length of the wrapping material can beachieved without problems simply by pulling on the unwound material.Pulling may even take place in the axial direction, so that the sheathis separated purely by tension.

The user is able to take the sections of predetermined length from theroll of the sheath without employing any high force.

The invention is illustrated below with reference to a number offigures, without thereby wishing to subject the invention to anyunnecessary restriction.

In the figures

FIG. 1 shows a sheath of the invention, composed of two adhesive tapeslaminated to one another,

FIG. 2 shows a second sheath of the invention, composed of two adhesivetapes laminated to one another, and also a third single-sidedly adhesivetape,

FIG. 3 shows the first step of the method of the invention for wrappinga cable loom,

FIG. 4 shows the second step of the method of the invention for wrappinga cable loom, and

FIG. 5 shows the cable loom completely wrapped by the method of theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a sheath of the invention of the kind used for wrappingelongate material, especially cable harnesses. The sheath comprises afirst and a second single-sidedly adhesive tape, 1 and 2 respectively.The adhesive tapes 1 and 2 are each composed of a backing 11, 21, oneach which an adhesive 12, 22 has been applied. The adhesive tapes 1 and2 are laminated to one another in the running direction in each case onthe adhesive side with an offset. The amount of the offset is 20%.

FIG. 2 shows a second sheath of the invention, composed of two adhesivetapes 1 and 2 laminated to one another, and also of a thirdsingle-sidedly adhesive tape 3. At the free edge of the first adhesivetape 1 of the sheath, the third single-sidedly adhesive tape 3, composedin turn of a backing 31 and of an adhesive 32, is laminated onto thefirst adhesive tape 1 in the running direction in each case on theadhesive side with an offset, the third adhesive tape 3 having a smallerwidth than the first. The amount of the offset is 50%.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show the method of the invention for wrapping a cable loom5 using a sheath as depicted by FIG. 2.

In the first step of the method the adhesive tape 3 is fixed in thelongitudinal direction of the cable loom 5. In the next step the firstply of the sheath is made by winding the first adhesive tape 1 aroundthe cable loom 5, specifically in such a way that the nontacky side ofthe adhesive tape 1 lies against the cable loom 5. This maintains theflexibility of the cable loom 5. The first adhesive tape 1 of the sheathcompletely envelops the material 5. The second adhesive tape 2 of thesheath is guided in a further winding around the material 5, the exposedadhesive 22 of the second adhesive tape 2 bonding to the exposedadhesive 11 of the first adhesive tape 1. At the end, the cable harness5 is surrounded by at least two plies of adhesive tape.

The second wrapping secures the bond and ensures the double layer forincreased abrasion protection.

In the table below there are typical dimensions for the widths of theadhesives tapes 1 to 3, for the width of the sheath, which is a resultof the width of the adhesive tapes 1 to 3 and also of the offset, andalso for the maximum diameter of the cable harness that can beensheathed with the respective sheath. Width of Width of Maximumdiameter Total width adhesive adhesive tapes of cable of sheath tape 3 1and 2 harness 5 60 25 30 10 80 25 40 13 100 25 50 16 120 25 60 19 140 2570 22 160 25 80 25 180 25 90 29 200 25 100 32 220 25 110 35 240 25 12038 260 25 130 41 280 25 140 45 300 25 150 48

1. (canceled)
 2. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the windingof the second adhesive tape of the sheath is such that the exposedadhesive of the first adhesive tape is completely covered by the secondadhesive tape.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein at the freeedge of the first adhesive tape of the sheath, a third single-sidedlyadhesive tape is laminated onto the first adhesive tape in the runningdirection, in each case on the adhesive side, with an offset, the thirdadhesive tape having a narrower width than the first adhesive tape. 4.The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sheath and also the sheathwith the third adhesive tape are present in fixed lengths.
 5. The methodas claimed in claim 18, wherein the sheath has a width of 50 to 400 mm.6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first adhesive tape hasa width of 40 to 140 mm, the second adhesive tape a width of 40 to 140mm and/or the third adhesive tape a width of 20 to 40 mm.
 7. The methodas claimed in claim 18, wherein the first adhesive tape is laminatedonto the second adhesive tape with an offset of 5% to 20% relative tothe width of the adhesive tape.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 3,wherein the third adhesive tape is laminated onto the first adhesivetape with an offset of 40% to 60%, relative to the width of the adhesivetape.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a backing material ofthe first, second and/or third adhesive tape is composed of a loopproduct or of a velour, lay, woven or formed-loop knit.
 10. The methodas claimed in claim 3, wherein the adhesive of the first, second and/orthird adhesive tape is a self-adhesive composition.
 11. The method asclaimed in claim 18, wherein the elongate material is a cable harness.12. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sheath has a width of80 to280 mm.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the backingmaterial is composed of a PET filament woven or a nylon woven.
 14. Themethod as claimed in claim 10, wherein the self-adhesive composition isa rubber or acrylate or silicone adhesive.
 15. A wrapped elongatematerial obtained as claimed in claim
 18. 16. The wrapped elongatematerial as claimed in claim 15, which is a cable harness.
 17. A vehiclecomprising wrapped elongate material as claimed in claim
 15. 18. Amethod of wrapping elongate material with a sheath, said methodcomprising the following steps: a) providing a sheath comprising firstand second single-sided adhesive tapes each comprising an adhesive sideand a non-adhesive side, the tapes in a running direction each beinglaminated to one another on an adhesive side thereof with an offset; b)aligning the first adhesive tape of the sheath relative to the materialto be wrapped such that a free edge of the first adhesive tape isparallel to a center axis of the material to be wrapped, and such thatthe adhesive side of the first adhesive tape is farther way from thematerial than the non-adhesive side of the first adhesive tape; c)guiding the first adhesive tape by the thus aligned free edge onto thematerial; d) winding the first adhesive tape around the material so thatthe first adhesive tape of the sheath essentially completely envelopsthe material; e) winding the second adhesive tape around the material insuch a way that the adhesive side of the second adhesive tape bonds tothe adhesive side of the first adhesive tape, so that the material isalways surrounded by at least two plies of adhesive tape.